Jana Tian's journey in agriculture technology faced hurdles when a fire in San Francisco destroyed her prototype robot. This led to innovative measures to sustain her nascent company, Upside Robotics. Tian and her team spent a growing season in an RV on Ontario farms, testing their row crop fertilization robots with limited prototypes.
Farmers seek technology to enhance productivity, yet adoption can be fraught with challenges. Tian noted, "It ended up being a seven-day-a-week operation. But through that, we were able to learn really, really fast, especially on the hardware side."
Tian participated in a panel during the Ag Robotics Working Group event at The Grove, Western Fair District, coinciding with the London Farm Show. Other panelists included Cory Derycke of HarvestCorp Technologies, Stefan Glibetic of Mycionics, and Matt Stevens of Finite Robotics. These companies are advancing their technologies and discussed market entry barriers and potential solutions.
HarvestCorp, transitioning its autonomous asparagus harvester from design to manufacturing, aims to reduce labor needs. Derycke stated, "The design and manufacturing is kind of happening simultaneously with design being, of course, a little more forward than the manufacturing."
Mycionics has developed 33 prototypes for mushroom harvesting, with pilot projects in Canada and Europe. Glibetic noted the technology's labor reduction and data provision benefits. Finite Robotics, addressing orchard labor costs, is testing its robot for pruning and thinning, aiming for market entry next year.
Upside Robotics plans to scale testing from 70 to 1,200 acres in 2024, potentially reducing nitrogen needs by 50 to 70 percent. Tian stated, "We really feel like now our hardware is ready to live in the field and be on the field the entire season."
Funding ag tech remains challenging, with venture capital declining post-COVID. Tian highlighted the difficulty of competing against SaaS and AI-based software. Stevens emphasized the importance of funding to help farmers adopt technology, while Glibetic relied on government and farmer support.
While Upside Robotics maintains interest in the U.S. corn market, its Ontario base offers a $4 billion market and skilled talent. Glibetic sees potential in Europe, Canada, and other regions, while Stevens targets Europe for Finite Robotics.
Panelists noted the rapid advancement of their technologies, valuing partnerships with government and academic institutions despite slower research speeds. Stevens praised the talent and ecosystem at the University of Waterloo, highlighting collaboration with Upside Robotics.
Source: Farmtario